You see, the Freemasonry tradition was introduced by the Dutch in Sri Lanka way back in 1771. They established the Fidelity Lodge, followed by more lodges in Galle and Colombo. But then, those crafty British folks took over the Dutch settlements and formed Ceylon as their own colony.
In 1801, the officers of the 51st Regiment were granted a warrant by the Grand Lodge of Scotland to establish the Orange Lodge No. 274 in Colombo. Oh, but it was dissolved later. Another lodge was formed for the 6th Battalion in 1802, but that went poof too. And let's not forget the lodge for the 34th Regiment of Foot. Hmm, seems like their meetings might have been more like a game of hide-and-seek.
Fast forward to 1838, and we see the birth of the oldest existing lodge in the country, St. John's Lodge of Colombo No. 454. It's still going strong, my friend! Then, in 1861, the Grand Lodge of Ireland decided to jump on the bandwagon and established Sphinx Lodge No. 107. They even formed a provincial Grand Lodge of Ceylon in 1878, but it went into snooze mode in 1890.
Now, it's not until 1886 when the English lodge, Lodge of St. George No. 2170 EC, finally caught up and made its grand entrance in Colombo. They're still active today, my friend. But back then, the Masonic meetings used to take place in the De Soysa Building in Slave Island. Quite a different vibe, if you ask me!
Finally, in 1900, after some land wrangling and fundraising, the cornerstone of this glorious temple was laid. The temple was designed by Edward Skinner, a Freemason himself and an associate of the Royal Institute of British Architects. The building showcases a splendid blend of neo-Georgian style with a touch of Eastern architecture. It's like a cultural cocktail!
And, oh, did I mention the ground floor? It had a Recreation Club Hall that was open to all, not just the Masons. They even rented it out for concerts and dances. Talk about a happening place, right? They even made the floor extra dance-friendly, perfect for shaking your groove thang!
Alright, my friend, that's the story of the Victoria Masonic Temple. Ready for the next stop on our adventure? Let's go to Cinnamon Life Colombo, the grand entertainment hub of the city! Prepare to be dazzled!
